‘Private rent emergency’ declared across Greater Manchester by homeless charities

Four leading homeless charities across Greater Manchester have declared a ‘private rent emergency’ in the region.

The organisations have launched a campaign calling for major changes to help protect thousands of local people facing homelessness – to coincide with World Homeless Day, on Tuesday (October 10th).

Stepping Stone Projects, Mustard Tree, The Booth Centre, and Shelter Greater Manchester – all dedicated to tackling poverty and ending homelessness – are calling on councils, politicians and a range of other stakeholders to publicly recognise the crisis in the private rental sector and back their plans for reform.

The campaign, which kicks off this week, aims to address the escalating homelessness crisis in the region – which the group argue is exacerbated by a perfect storm of soaring rents, Local Housing Allowance frozen at 2020 levels, the benefit cap, increasing evictions and the cost-of-living crisis.

New analysis of the official figures released by the group of four, shows the main reason for households facing homelessness in Greater Manchester is people losing their tenancies in private rented homes.

Figures revealed 44% of cases where households are at risk of homelessness in the city-region are from people living in the private rented sector, compared to 25% living with family and 9% living in the social rented sector.

While rough sleeping has fallen significantly from its historic high thanks in part to the efforts of the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, homelessness levels overall remain stubbornly high, with a rising number of households relying on temporary accommodation.

Rents in some parts of Greater Manchester are rising by as much as 38% annually, yet the Local Housing Allowance, which sets the benefit rates people can access for private rents, remains frozen at 2018/19 rent levels.

Dave Smith, Chief Executive of Stepping Stone Projects, which supports around 2,000 people at risk of homelessness in Greater Manchester, said: “We have seen a rapid growth in homelessness and surging demand for temporary accommodation from local people who have effectively been shut out of the private rented sector.

“Soaring rents and inadequate rights have led to this emergency, which must be recognised and tackled if we are serious about reducing homelessness in Greater Manchester.”

The charities are calling for crucial measures to improve the private rented sector and curb the growing tide of homelessness. The campaign’s core focus revolves around the ‘4 R’s’:

•       Regulation: The swift introduction and implementation of the Renters’ Reform Bill, banning ‘no-fault’ evictions and enhancing tenant rights.
•       Rent Control: Greater Manchester should have the power to control private rents in order to protect tenants from unaffordable increases.
•       Rates of Local Housing Allowance (LHA): Increase LHA rates and reinstate indexation to ensure that the private rental sector can be accessed by households in receipt of benefits.
•       Rights: End age discrimination in the LHA system and discrimination based on immigration status.